Nebuliser Device

ABSTRACT

A nebuliser device with a vibrating mesh, for administering medicaments is provided. The nebuliser device includes a casing, a nozzle, a nebuliser and a chamber that houses a medicament. The chamber housing a medicament is a disposable capsule forming an independent body that can be extracted from the casing of the device. The disposable capsule attaches to the nebuliser and to the casing. An attachment between the nebuliser and the casing allows the disposable capsule to be coupled to the nebuliser device or to be uncoupled therefrom.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a nebuliser device with a vibratingmesh.

Nebuliser devices are used in the pharmaceutical and hospital industriesfor administering medicaments via inhalation, preferably through themouth, via dispersing small liquid particles in the form of fog andexpelling them through a nozzle of said nebuliser device.

Patients that are following a specific treatment where a nebuliserdevice is needed inhale through said nebuliser device the precise doseof the medicament they have been prescribed.

Therefore, the present invention has applications in the pharmaceuticaland sanitary industries, and in general in the industry dedicated tomanufacturing, distributing, selling and administering medicaments.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO ADDRESS AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are different procedures and devices in the state of the art foradministering medicaments via aerosols or sprays (also known asatomisers or nebuliser devices).

One example of a nebuliser device or atomiser is described in thedocument with American U.S. Pat. No. 8,025,050 B2, which describes anebuliser cartridge with a geometry designed to utilise the maximummedicament possible that is contained in said cartridge.

As for the procedures for administering drugs via aerosols or sprays,one of the procedures consists of dispersing or nebulising by means of avibrating mesh.

In this type of nebuliser devices, the aerosol is generated when theliquid medicament is pushed through the micro-holes present in a meshmade of a polymer or metal alloy, depending on each case, where saidmesh oscillates at a high frequency (˜180 kHz).

The advantages of this technology can be summed up as follows:

it produces a suitable size of nebulised particles;

easy to transport due to its pocket-size;

it operates with conventional batteries;

inhalation at different angles of attack with a stable nebulisation(easy to use in bed, or when holding up a child or a baby in one'sarms);

silent;

simple mechanism triggered by pushing a single button;

valid for a wide range of medicaments;

minimum loss and waste of medication (around 0.1 ml).

However, in spite of the aforementioned advantages it provides, thetechnology of nebulisation by means of a vibrating mesh currently hassome drawbacks, such as the need to clean and disinfect the nebuliserdevice once the medicament it contains has been inhaled. This means thatit is necessary to reach the highest possible number of internal areasof the nebuliser device, including the nozzle and the chamber (storingchamber) in which the drug to be administered is introduced.

Another drawback of these devices is that both the mixture of themedication introduced in the chamber as the dose of said medication isoften prepared by patients themselves at their homes, which cansometimes cause mistakes in the dosage, which results in the patientreceiving an incorrect treatment.

Finally, it is also common that the design of the chamber does notcontribute to providing the full dose of the medication, which alsoresults in an inadequate or insufficient treatment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a nebuliser device of the type thatcomprises a vibrating mesh for nebulising a medicament containedtherein, which has to be administered as an aerosol to a patient.

The nebuliser device that is the object of the invention comprises acasing, a nozzle (through which the patient inhales the medicament), achamber that houses a medicament, and a nebuliser that comprises avibrating mesh inside it.

The most particular feature of the nebuliser device described is thatthe chamber housing a medicament is a disposable capsule forming anindependent body that can be extracted from the casing of the device,where said disposable capsule comprises means for attaching to thenebuliser and to the casing, so that said attachment means allow thedisposable capsule to be coupled to the nebuliser device and/oruncoupled therefrom.

In a first embodiment of the nebuliser device, the aforementionedattachment means comprise a threaded coupling between the nebuliser andthe disposable capsule.

Alternatively, said coupling can be done without a threaded coupling,and by means of pressure fitting. In the latter case, according to anembodiment of the device, the nebuliser comprises a hinge that connectsit with the disposable capsule.

The same types of threaded coupling or pressure fitting coupling (bymeans of a correct fitting diameter on the end of the nozzle connectingto the nebuliser and/or the disposable capsule) are also options forvalid embodiments for coupling the nozzle and the nebuliser and/or thedisposable capsule.

In another embodiment, the nozzle can be coupled to the casing of thenebuliser device, according to the coupling means described above.

Alternatively, the nozzle of the nebuliser device can form an integralpart of the casing of the nebuliser device.

Although in the present invention the disposable capsule is disposedafter each time the nebuliser device is used, the nebuliser of thenebuliser device is preferably reusable.

The nebuliser, such as it has been described, comprises a vibrating meshinside it for nebulising the medicament.

Additionally, in a preferred embodiment of the nebuliser device, thenebuliser also comprises a piezoelectric device that actuates thevibrating mesh. Said piezoelectric device is activated by means foractivating/deactivating it that, in one of the embodiments of thenebuliser device, may consist of a button on the casing of the nebuliserdevice.

The disposable capsule is inserted in the casing in a removable way,either remaining completely hidden inside the casing, or partiallyprotruding from the casing.

In addition, it should be highlighted that the medicament containedinside the disposable capsule may be formed by a single phase, liquid,or by two or more phases (liquid phases or a combination of solid andliquid phases), separated by at least one internal seal in thedisposable capsule.

Similarly, the nebuliser preferably comprises a punch with a cuttingedge, which, when the nebuliser is coupled to the disposable capsule ofthe nebuliser device, it perforates the outer seal of the disposablecapsule (if it has not been removed manually) and/or at least oneinternal seal of said disposable capsule (in those embodiments in whichthe disposable capsule comprises at least one internal seal), gainingaccess to the medicaments contained therein, and mixing the differentphases that may comprise said medicament.

Said punch preferably has a hollow geometry, which allows the medicamentto flow or move inside it towards the vibrating mesh of the nebuliser,and finally outside the nebuliser device.

According to a preferred way to use the nebuliser device, the userplaces the nozzle of the nebuliser device in their mouth and activatesthe means for activating/deactivating the device (for example: a buttonon the casing), that activates the piezoelectric device, which in turnstriggers the vibrating mesh of the nebuliser of the nebuliser device.Afterwards, the user of the nebuliser device breathes in and inhales thepulverised medicament, which goes inside their body.

The purpose of the outer seal is to seal in the medicament contained inthe disposable capsule.

In those embodiments in which the disposable capsule comprises at leastone internal seal, the purpose of each internal seal of the disposablecapsule is to seal in the medicament contained in said disposablecapsule and/or separate the different phases (solid/liquids) that maycomprise said medicament.

The outer seal is located preferably on the end of the disposablecapsule that connects with the nebuliser.

The geometry of said disposable capsule is preferably a vertical cone(in the shape of a funnel) on the upper part thereof and a cylinder onthe lower part thereof that connects with the nebuliser, and it maycomprise an L-shape that joins together the upper vertical conical partwith the lower cylindrical part.

The lower cylindrical part of the disposable capsule may be in thevertical position (just like the upper conical part).

In the embodiment in which the disposable capsule comprises an L-shapebetween the upper conical part and the lower cylindrical part, saidlower cylindrical part may be arranged in an oblique or horizontalposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

As part of the explanation as to how the invention is embodied, thefollowing figures have been included:

FIG. 1: Shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of thenebuliser device that is the object of the invention.

FIG. 2: Shows a cross-section view of a second variation of the firstembodiment of the nebuliser device.

FIG. 3: Shows a cross-section view of a third variation of the firstembodiment of the nebuliser device.

FIG. 4: Shows a perspective view of a first type of casing of thenebuliser device, in which the main components of the nebuliser devicethat is the object of the invention are integrated together.

FIG. 5: Shows a perspective view of the assembly of the main componentsof the nebuliser device that is the object of the invention, in thecasing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6: Shows a perspective view of the assembly of a second embodimentof the nebuliser device, in a second type of casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, as it has been mentioned above, refers to anebuliser device with a vibrating mesh.

The nebuliser device comprises, in any of the embodiments that aredescribed below, a casing (10), a disposable capsule (1), a nebuliser(4) and a nozzle (5).

The nebuliser device also comprises an outer seal (3) of the disposablecapsule (1), and, optionally, at least one internal seal (2) of thedisposable capsule (1).

The nebuliser (4) also comprises a punch (6), a piezoelectric device (7)and a mesh (8).

In the first embodiment, the disposable capsule (1) has an L-shapedgeometry with preferably a vertical cone on the upper part thereof andwith a horizontal cylinder on the lower part thereof, sealed by anexternal seal (3).

FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of thenebuliser device (the casing (10) has not been represented in thedrawing). Said drawing shows the key components that form part of thenebuliser device, according to the first embodiment.

A disposable capsule (1) is represented in FIG. 1, which comprises anouter seal (3) and a single internal seal (2).

In those cases where there is a single internal seal (2), this seal hasthe purpose of protecting the medicament contained inside the disposablecapsule (1) from the environment, after the outer seal (3) has beenvoluntarily removed or it has worn out. It should be noted that theouter seal (3) preferably comprises means, such as small tab or flap,that allow said outer seal (3) to be removed manually. Therefore, duringthe transport and/or storage of the disposable capsule (1), said outerseal (3) may wear out due to rubbing against a foreign element,accidentally removing the outer seal (3) from the disposable capsule(1). In this case, the existence of an internal seal (2) guarantees thatthe medicament is kept sealed inside the disposable capsule (1).

In those cases in which there is more than one internal seal (2), theinternal seals (2) located further inside the disposable capsule (1)have the purpose of separating the different phases in which themedicament may be stored inside the disposable capsule (1). Said phasesmay comprise liquid phases or a combination of liquid and solid phases.

There is also the possibility (not represented in the drawings) that thedisposable capsule (1) does not comprise any internal seals (2), andthat it comprises a single outer seal (3) that has the purpose ofprotecting the medicament inside the disposable capsule (1) from theenvironment.

The nebuliser (4) may form a single body with the disposable capsule (1)of the nebuliser device, so that both the nebuliser (4) and thedisposable capsule (1) are disposed of once the dose of the medicamentcontained inside the disposable capsule (1) has been used.

Alternatively (and preferably), the nebuliser (4) can be removed fromthe disposable capsule (1) once the dose of the medicament containedinside the disposable capsule (1) has been used.

In this way, the nebuliser (4) can be reused, resulting in savings inmaterials and costs for users since they do not have to acquire a newnebuliser (4) each time the nebuliser device is used, and they do notneed to clean the disposable capsule (1) after using the nebuliserdevice; they just need to clean and disinfect the nebuliser (4) afterusing it, and they only need to purchase disposable capsules (1) at thechemist or hospital, which are coupled to the nebuliser (4) in order toadminister the right medicament.

The nozzle (5) may also form part of a single body with the nebuliser(4) and/or with the disposable capsule (1) and/or the casing (10), oralternatively (and preferably), it may be an independent body from theothers, which is coupled to the nebuliser (4) and/or the disposablecapsule (1) and/or the casing (10) in order to administer the medicamenteach time the nebuliser device is used, so that after the medicament hasbeen applied the parts that make up the nebuliser device are separated,the empty disposable capsule (1) is disposed of, and the nozzle (5) andthe nebuliser (4) are disinfected and cleaned.

According to a preferred use of the nebuliser device, users could handover the nebuliser (4) of their nebuliser devices to a companyspecialised in sanitary services, so that said company is the one incharge of cleaning and disinfecting the nebuliser (4).

In this way, users save time since they do not need to personally cleanthe nebuliser (4) of their nebuliser device, since said cleaning anddisinfecting operation is carried out by a professional or a companythat provides specialised sanitary services.

In order to correctly administer the medicament each time the nebuliserdevice is used, the user purchases a disposable capsule (1) thatcontains the right medicament in the right dose for each case, and thencouples the nebuliser (4) to the lower cylindrical part of thedisposable capsule (1).

The punch (6) of the nebuliser (4) perforates both the outer seal (3) onthe lower part of the disposable capsule (1) (when it has not beenremoved manually), as well as each internal seal (2) of said disposablecapsule (1) (in those embodiments in which the disposable capsule (1)comprises at least one internal seal (2)). In this way, the differentphases in which the medicament may be stored separately inside thedisposable capsule (1) are mixed, and afterwards the mixture of themedicaments flows through the inside of the punch (6) towards the mesh(8) that is actuated by the piezoelectric device (7). In order to do so,the punch (6) has a hollow geometry with a cutting edge.

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, represent different variations of the firstembodiment of the nebuliser device. Said drawings show the maincomponents of the nebuliser device, and they do not represent the casing(10).

The variations shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 only differ in the way thenebuliser (4) and the disposable capsule (1) are coupled together.

The coupling between the nebuliser (4) and the disposable capsule (1) ispreferably done by threaded means (see FIG. 2). Alternatively (see FIG.3), the nebuliser (4) may be coupled by means of swivelling to thedisposable capsule (1), so that it turns by means of a hinge and iscoupled by means of pressure fitting to said disposable capsule (1).

The mesh (8) of the nebuliser (4) is actuated by the piezoelectricdevice (7), preferably by means of pushing a switch, button or anothermeans of activating/deactivating (9) the device, comprised in the casing(10) of the nebuliser device.

The piezoelectric device (7) actuates the vibrating mesh (8) causing themesh (8) to vibrate at a high frequency vibration (˜180 kHz).

It may also be necessary to shake the disposable capsule (1) before themedicament is administered in order to help the medicament to mix andhomogenise correctly.

The nozzle (5) may be disposed of (if it is an independent body from therest of the components of the device) after each use, or it may bereused.

FIG. 1 shows the nozzle (5) as an independent body from the rest of thecomponents of the device; in this case, the nozzle (5) is coupled to thenebuliser (4) and to the disposable capsule (1). Said coupling can bedone by threaded means, by means of an existing thread on the end of thenozzle (5) that is coupled to the rest of the nebuliser device, with thenozzle (5) tightening either to the nebuliser (4) or to the disposablecapsule (1).

Alternatively, the coupling between the nozzle (5) and the rest of thenebuliser device may be carried out by other means different fromthreaded coupling, such as for example, by pressure fitting.

Alternatively, the nozzle (5) can be coupled to the casing (10) of thenebuliser device, according to the coupling means described above.

FIG. 4 shows a first type of casing (10) of the nebuliser device, inwhich the main components of the nebuliser device that is the object ofthe invention are integrated together. The casing (10) of the nebuliserdevice comprises means for activating/deactivating (9) the device, suchas a button, which when it is pushed it causes the piezoelectric device(7) of the nebuliser (4) to actuate the vibrating mesh (8) in order tocorrectly apply the medicament.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the assembly of the main componentsof the nebuliser device that is the object of the invention, in thecasing (10) shown in the previous figure.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the assembly of the main componentsof the nebuliser device (according to a second embodiment of saidnebuliser device), in a second type of casing (10).

In said second embodiment of the nebuliser device shown in FIG. 6, thedisposable capsule (1) does not have an L-shaped geometry and itcomprises an upper part preferably in the shape of a vertical cone and alower part in the shape of a vertical cylinder, which is inserted in thecasing (10) of the nebuliser device, that in this case forms a singlebody with the nozzle (5).

When the disposable capsule (1) is inserted in the nebuliser device, thepunch (6) of the nebuliser (4) perforates an internal seal (2) of thedisposable capsule (1), gaining access to the medicament containedinside said disposable capsule (1).

As the means of activating/deactivating (9) the device are pushed, suchas a button located on the casing (10) of the nebuliser device, thepiezoelectric device (7) of the nebuliser (4) is activated, which inturn actuates the vibrating mesh (8).

1. A nebuliser device with a vibrating mesh, for administeringmedicaments, comprising a casing, a nozzle, a nebuliser and a chamberthat houses a medicament, wherein said chamber housing a medicament is adisposable capsule forming an independent body that can be extractedfrom the casing of the nebuliser device, said disposable capsule isconfigured to attach to the nebuliser and to the casing, and anattachment between the nebuliser and the casing allows the disposablecapsule to be coupled to the nebuliser device and to be uncoupledtherefrom.
 2. The nebuliser device according to claim 1, wherein thenebuliser comprises a piezoelectric device and a vibrating mesh actuatedby the piezoelectric device.
 3. The nebuliser device according to claim2, wherein the casing comprises an activating/deactivating mechanism forthe piezoelectric device that actuates the vibrating mesh of thenebuliser
 4. The nebuliser device according to claim 1, wherein thenozzle is configured to couple to the nebuliser and/or to the disposablecapsule and to uncouple therefrom.
 5. The nebuliser device according toclaim 1, wherein the nozzle is configured to couple to the casing of thedevice and uncouple therefrom.
 6. The nebuliser device according toclaim 4, wherein the nozzle is configured to couple to the nebuliserand/or to the disposable capsule by at least one of: a. a thread on theend of the nozzle that connects it with the nebuliser or the disposablecapsule; and b. a fitting diameter on the end of the nozzle thatconnects it with the nebuliser or the disposable capsule, by a pressurefitting.
 7. The nebuliser device according to claim 1, wherein thenozzle forms an integral part of the casing.
 8. The nebuliser deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the disposable capsule comprises an outerseal protecting the medicament housed therein.
 9. The nebuliser deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the disposable capsule comprises at leastone internal seal protecting the medicament housed therein and/orseparating the different phases of the medicament housed therein. 10.The nebuliser device according to claim 9, wherein the medicamentshoused inside the disposable capsule comprise at least two differentphases selected between: a. liquid phases; and b. a combination ofliquid and solid phases; wherein each of said phases is located ondifferent sides of an internal seal.
 11. The nebuliser device accordingto claim 1, wherein the disposable capsule comprises a geometry with anupper part in a shape of a vertical cone and a lower part in a form of acylinder.
 12. The nebuliser device according to claim 11, wherein thedisposable capsule comprises an L-shaped geometry in a shape of avertical cone in the upper part thereof, and in a shape of an oblique orhorizontal cylinder in the lower part thereof.
 13. The nebuliser deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the lower part of the disposable capsulein the shape of a cylinder is arranged in a vertical position.
 14. Thenebuliser device according to claim 1, wherein the nebuliser comprises apunch with a cutting geometry on an end thereof, configured to perforatean outer seal of the disposable capsule and/or at least one internalseal of the disposable capsule, where the geometry of said punch ishollow, allowing the medicament to flow through the punch towards themesh of the nebuliser.
 15. The nebuliser device according to claim 1,wherein the nebuliser is coupled to the disposable capsule by at leastone of: a. a threaded coupling; and b. a coupling by pressure fitting.16. The nebuliser device according to claim 1, wherein the nebuliser iscoupled to the disposable capsule by a hinge.
 17. The nebuliser deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein the nozzle is configured to couple to thecasing of the device by at least one of: a. a thread on the end of thenozzle that connects it with the casing; and b. a fitting diameter onthe end of the nozzle that connects it with the casing by a pressurefitting.